Ore-classifier.



E. C. ROBINSON.

ORE CLASSIFIER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY I5, IsIs.

1,223,523. i Patented @24,1911

2 SHEETS-SHEET l'.

E. C.'ROB|NSON.

ORE CLASSIFIER.

APPLlcATmN FILED MAY 15, |916.

' 1- 223,528. 'Patented Apr. 24,1917. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

5f/za.' i //f j' I 75 i 5,

' ,/l .j 57 25 j? f -f 112322 i5/@Mmmm ILS @Wolken s UNITED sTATEs PATENT oEEioE.

EDISON c. ROBINSON, 1or TELLURIDE, COLORADO.

To all whom tmay/ concem v 1 Be it known that I, EDISON C. ROBINSON, a citizen of the United Statesv of America, residing at Telluride, in the county of San Miguel and State of Colorado, have invented certain., new and useful Improvements in Ore-Classiers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing. t y This invention relates to an ore classifier and has for its principal object the production of a device which is constructed so asto,

cause the several lgrades or sizes of ore to be' separated and passed into different receptacles.

Another Object of this invention is the production of an ore classifier whereinthere is provided Aa 'rotating spiral which vris adapted to t upon a conical bottom, where- 2O by the movement 'ofthe spiral will notcause the largest crushed ore within the tank to be F. 5

f 1g. l

launder or trough may be regulated, for as this ore passes into the launder or trough it may be conveyedk by gravity or Otherwise to wherever desired.` y

Another object of this invention is the production ofan ore classifier having a feed pipe carriedwithin the tank, whereby the crushed ore and water mixture 1 may be passed into the tank adjacent the lower portions thereof.

A still further object the production of an-ore classifier wherein therotating spiral is constructed so that as the ore is .moved along the bottom by the s iral it will assume a trough-like formation so that the water may readily and easily run from 'the ore asthe same is passed upwardly and deposited in a central discharge pipe extending from the central upper porl tion of the conical bottom. y With these 'and other objectsiin view this invention consists of certain novel combina* tions, constructions, and arrangements kof V used in the operation of the device. vtank 1 has a conical bottom 2 extending from of this invention is ORE-CLASSIFIER.

K Specificationr of Letters Iatent. Patented API'. 24, 1917. Application ined May 15, 191e.' serial No. 97,627.

parts as will be hereinafter fully described `and claimed. I

In the accompanying drawings: 4 Figure 1 is a side elevation of the ore classifier asconstructed in accordance with this invention.

Fig. 2 is ra horizontal section through the yore classifier taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1,

looking in the directionv of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the ore classifier. n

Fig. is a fragmentary' plan view of a portion of the spiral and the spider connected thereto, illustrating how the spiral extends across the spider. A

A Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the device, showing the manner inwhich the baille is y'retained by means of thev setscrews in an adjusted position within andextending above the tank.

Fig. 6 is asection taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 7 is i a plan *view of the operating lever, which is connected to the device so as -to liftthe arm whichl rotates the spiral. n', Referringl to the accompanying drawings `'by numerals it will be seen that the ore classifier comprises a tank 1 which is preferably formed of sheet metal and which is circular' in shape, as shown in Fig. 2, thereby making a greater overflow contact-for the solution This the lower portions thereof upwardly toward the central'portion of the tank. This bottom 2 has its upper end cut away as shown at 3 so as to permit the flange 4 of the internally threaded thimble 5 to be attached thereto by means yof the rivets 6. The central discharge pipe 7 is threaded into engagement with the internally threaded thimble 5 as shownin Fig. 3 for purposes to be hereinafter setv forth. The circular feed pipe 38 which constitutes the feed pipe is provided with the apertures 39'and this feed pipe 38 is sup- 4pliedbyfmeains-of'the'supply pipe 410 eX- tending'from the housing 41 mounted upon the block /12 carried by the platform 15. This pipe 40 constitutes a support for the pipe 38 while the rods 43 carried bythe block 42 are also connected to the pipe 38 for further supporting the same. The pipe 14; supplies the housing with water and crushed ore when the device is in operation. It is intended that the crushed Ore and water rwill pass through the pipe 44 into the feed pipe 38 and then be dispensador `injected into the tankthrough the apertures 39.

The spider 11 has its two downwardly diverging arms Y12 extending into the inte-A 'rior' of thek tank 1 ata spaced distance from the outer surface of the bottom 2.` kThe double spiral 13 is positioned so as to rest :upon the conical bottom 2 andis coiled so as to extend from the lower portion of the bottom 2 to a point adjacent the upper end 3 thereof as shown inf-Figs. 2 and 8.* The arms 12 of the spider 11 fit upon the spirals 13 and these spirals may be secured to these armsA 12 by being boltedwor secured in any .other suitable manner thereto, so that Vas rotary motion is imparted to the spiderll thespirals'may also be caused to rotatev upon the conical bottom 2 for purposes to be `hereinafter set forth.A The shaft 14 is secured in any suitable mannertothe spider 11 and passes upwardly throughtheplatform 15. The large bevel gearl isfkeyed upon the sliaft14 bythe spindle key 17 and meshes with lthe small'bevel gear 18 carried by the operatingshaft 19 supported by the bracket 2 0.v Thus', it will be seen that as the shaft 19 rotates the rotary motion imparted to the bevel gearf 1.6 byy means of the bevelgear 18 will cause the shaft 14 to be rotated, thus imparting rotary motion 'to the spider 11 and thence to the spirals 13.

The lugs 2l are positioned upon the upper' edge of the tank 1 and are held in position by means of the'rivets'22. The set screws 28 pass'through these lugs 21 'and ybe'a-rupon the exterior surface of the baille 24. This? baille 24 is formed so-asto lpresent a sleeve-like structure fitting within theltank 1,' although 'entendingfor a distance thereabove whereby the set screws 28 Abearing upon this baille 24 will hold the ore so thatth'ecyanid mayhave a 'better chance to dissolve the smaller particles of metal inA the ore,vvhile the coarseorefmaybe conveyed-to afregrinding machine to be ground as .finel as necessary withv lthe vvcyanid solutions f It is, of course, obvious that at this time rotary motion should be-imparted to 'the shaft 14-bythegears16 and 18 through-the-lshaft 19 'so that the' spider. will causevthespirals 134 to-*befrotatediupon the conical bottom to be 'associated 2. Ifit is only desired to have very fine *ore passed over the upper edge of the tank be Vconveyed in any suitable manner fromthe launder orftrough to wherever desired.

As the spirals continue to rotate upon the conical bottom 2 the larger particles of ore will be dragged into a spiral formation upon the bottom 2 toward the upper end of thev bottom. 1When the coarse ore finally reaches'this point it will be urged into the discharge or 'exhaust pipe '7 to be conducted to the regrinding-'milL as above set forth.

Since the movement of the spirals 13 and the arms 12 of the spider 115 will continue when the ore classifier is in operation line ore `will be suspended inor through the water. Itfwill be noted further that owing to `the fact that the spirals extend toward the ylowerlportions of the bottom 2 and also toward the upper portions that although the spirals will be filled with coarse ore gutterlike formationsl will be formed by the ore upon the spirals so that the water in the ore can readily run around the spirals and drain down into the interior of the tank 1 sok that only a minimum amount of water will'` be discharged through the pipe 7. Therefore, s'incethe line particles of ore will be suspended in the water this line ore and water 'must necessarily pass between the baille and the interior of the tank so as to overflow into the launder or trough 25. By adjusting the baille 24 and -moving the same upwardly in avertical plane a greater space will be provided between the spirals and the lower edge of thebaflle 24 and as a consequence `ore of a greater size may pass to the upperv edge of the tank into the launder or trough than would befthe' case if the baille 24fwere carried so as to extend for a greater distance into the interior of the tank.

' The platform 26 has a journal bracket 27 mounted thereon, which is retained in position by means of the screws 28 which pass through the openings 29. The lever 30 has the integral zring 31 formed upon one Vend thereof and this ring-31 is split so as to provide the parallel arms 32 iitting upon the journal 'bracket 27 beingretained by'means 'ofthe-pivot'. The ring 31 vpasses about the grooved collar-34 which is keyed upon the shaft 14 by means of the set screws 35. Thelugs '36 carried by thering 31 opposite eachother twithinthe groovedA collar 34 as Vthe shaft 14 is not interfered with.

shown in Fig. 7. The platform 26 is provided with a slot 37 through which depends the lever 30 which is substantially L-shaped as shown in Fig. 3. Thus, it will be seen that when so desired thelever 30 may be pulled away from theshaft 14: thus causing the lugs 86 to lift the collar 34 which will inturn lift the, shaft` lll. In order to permit this movement it will be seen that the key 17 is carried in the elongated slot 17 and as a consequence the upward movement of This action of the shaft will cause the spider 11 to be lifted whereby the arms 12 will lift the spirals 13 from engagement with the bottom 2. This action may kbe desired when the machine is not running when free access is desired to the interior of the tank l. Of course, at this time it is obvious that the baiiie 24 must be lifted high enough to permit the upper movement of the arms and the spirals. If at this time the machine is again started to operate, the releasing of the lever 30 will cause the spirals to move down on to the ore carried upon the bottom 2 and to-dig this ore away until the spirals rest snugly upon the bottom 2, as shown in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description it willbe seen that a very eiicient ore classifier has been provided which is constructed so as to permit the crushed ore and water to be injected into the interior of the tank. After this action it will be seen that the coarse ore may be moved upwardly yand finally discharged through the exhaust pipe, while the water and the liner ore is thoroughly mixed and will pass around the baiie carried in the tank so as to overflow the interior ofthe `tank into the launder or trough. It is further obvious that upon the adjustment of the baille the ore of a greater size instead of being discharged through the discharge pipe may pass over the upper portion of the tank into the launder or trough, while the construction of the spirals will cause a maximum amount of water to run back along the gutter-like formationk caused by the tilting of the spirals, as shown inFigs. 2 and 3, thereby necessitating the greater amount of water in which the fine ore ismixedto be passed into the launder or trough.

The circular pipe 8, which constitutes the flushing pipe has apertures 9 registering with the apertures 9 formed in the conical bottom 2 adjacent the lower portion thereof and this flushingk pipe is supplied with water through the pipe 10 so that when it is desired to Hush the tank for cleaning the same this action may be easily accomplished.

What is claimed is:

1. In an ore classifier of the class described, the combination of a tank having ak conical bottom, said bottom extending evenly from its lower portion to its upper portion, thereby presenting an even bearing surface,`said bottom having an outlet at-its spiral, said convolutions being spaced apart at greater distances' than the `width of'said ribbon-like strips,l therebyv providing sufficientspace for coarse ore, and said spirals .resting evenly upon said conical bottom throughout their entire length, whereby ore will be dragged up said conical bottom as said spirals are moved by said arms.

2Q In an ore classifier of the class described, the combination of a tank having a conical bottom, said bottom extending evenly from its lower portion to its upper portion, thereby presenting an even bearing surface, said bottom having an outlet at its upper portion, means for supplying said tank with crushed ore and water, a rotating spider `having arms extending into said tank, means for supporting and rotating said spider, spirals secured to said arms, each spiral formed from aribbon-like strip of material coiled to form a plurality of convolutions, said convolutions diminishing in size toward the upper end of the spiral, said convolutions being spaced apart at greater distances than the width of said ribbon-like strips, said ribbon-like strips extending at right angles to the surface of said bottom, whereby as said spirals are moved around upon said bottom they will rest snugly thereon for dragging ore upon said bottom and furthermore said spirals will form gutter-like structures for causing water to run back therealong into said tank.

3. In an ore classifier of the class described, the combination of a tank having a conical bottom, said bottom `extending evenly from its lower portion to its upper portion, thereby presenting an even bearing surface, said bottom having an outlet at its upper portion, means for supplying said tankwith crushed ore and water, a rotating spider having arms extending into said tank, means for supporting and rotating said spider, spirals secured to said arms, each spiral formed from a ribbon-like strip of material coiled to form a plurality of convolutions, said convolutions diminishing in size toward the.upper end of the spiral, said convolutions `being spaced apart at greater distances than the width of said said spirals are moved by said arms, and means for lifting said spirals from engagement with said bottom whenever necessary. ai. ln an ore classifier of the class described, the combina-tion of a tank having a conical bottom, said bottom extending evenly from its lower portion to its upper portion, thereby presenting an even bearing surface, said bottom having an outlet at its upper portion, means for supplying said tank with crushed ore and water, a rotating spider having arms extending into said tank, means for supporting and rotating said spider, spirals secured to said arms, each spiral formed from a ribbon-like strip of material coiled to form a plurality of convolutions, said convolutions diminishing in size toward the upper end of the spiral, said convolutions being spaced apart at greater distances than the width of said ribbon-like strips, thereby providing suliieient space for coarse ore, said spirals resting snugly upon said even conical bottom throughout their entire length, whereby ore will be dragged up said conical bottom as said spirals are moved by said arms, and a lifting lever connected tol said llast-mentioned means, whereby said spirals may be lifted yfrom engagement with said bottom when necessary.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aliiX my signature.

nnisoN c. RoBiNsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

